What Kiddieland International Limited's (HKG:3830) 26% Share Price Gain Is Not Telling You

Kiddieland International Limited (HKG:3830) shares have continued their recent momentum with a 26% gain in the last month alone. Not all shareholders will be feeling jubilant, since the share price is still down a very disappointing 15% in the last twelve months.

In spite of the firm bounce in price, you could still be forgiven for feeling indifferent about Kiddieland International's P/S ratio of 0.2x, since the median price-to-sales (or "P/S") ratio for the Leisure industry in Hong Kong is also close to 0.6x. Although, it's not wise to simply ignore the P/S without explanation as investors may be disregarding a distinct opportunity or a costly mistake.

Check out our latest analysis for Kiddieland International

What Does Kiddieland International's Recent Performance Look Like?

It looks like revenue growth has deserted Kiddieland International recently, which is not something to boast about. It might be that many expect the uninspiring revenue performance to only match most other companies at best over the coming period, which has kept the P/S from rising. Those who are bullish on Kiddieland International will be hoping that this isn't the case, so that they can pick up the stock at a lower valuation.

What Are Revenue Growth Metrics Telling Us About The P/S?

In order to justify its P/S ratio, Kiddieland International would need to produce growth that's similar to the industry.

Retrospectively, the last year delivered virtually the same number to the company's top line as the year before. The lack of growth did nothing to help the company's aggregate three-year performance, which is an unsavory 19% drop in revenue. So unfortunately, we have to acknowledge that the company has not done a great job of growing revenue over that time.

Weighing that medium-term revenue trajectory against the broader industry's one-year forecast for expansion of 8.8% shows it's an unpleasant look.

In light of this, it's somewhat alarming that Kiddieland International's P/S sits in line with the majority of other companies. It seems most investors are ignoring the recent poor growth rate and are hoping for a turnaround in the company's business prospects. There's a good chance existing shareholders are setting themselves up for future disappointment if the P/S falls to levels more in line with the recent negative growth rates.

The Bottom Line On Kiddieland International's P/S

Kiddieland International's stock has a lot of momentum behind it lately, which has brought its P/S level with the rest of the industry. Using the price-to-sales ratio alone to determine if you should sell your stock isn't sensible, however it can be a practical guide to the company's future prospects.

Our look at Kiddieland International revealed its shrinking revenues over the medium-term haven't impacted the P/S as much as we anticipated, given the industry is set to grow. Even though it matches the industry, we're uncomfortable with the current P/S ratio, as this dismal revenue performance is unlikely to support a more positive sentiment for long. If recent medium-term revenue trends continue, it will place shareholders' investments at risk and potential investors in danger of paying an unnecessary premium.

Before you settle on your opinion, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Kiddieland International (2 are a bit concerning!) that you should be aware of.

If these risks are making you reconsider your opinion on Kiddieland International, explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.